the odyssey(奥德赛)-第41节

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on　a　fool's　errand。　Ask　Menelaus　to　send　you　home　at　once　if　you
wish　to　find　your　excellent　mother　still　there　when　you　get　back。
Her　father　and　brothers　are　already　urging　her　to　marry　Eurymachus；
who　has　given　her　more　than　any　of　the　others；　and　has　been　greatly
increasing　his　wedding　presents。　I　hope　nothing　valuable　may　have　been
taken　from　the　house　in　spite　of　you；　but　you　know　what　women　are…
they　always　want　to　do　the　best　they　can　for　the　man　who　marries　them；
and　never　give　another　thought　to　the　children　of　their　first　husband；
nor　to　their　father　either　when　he　is　dead　and　done　with。　Go　home；
therefore；　and　put　everything　in　charge　of　the　most　respectable
woman　servant　that　you　have；　until　it　shall　please　heaven　to　send
you　a　wife　of　your　own。　Let　me　tell　you　also　of　another　matter　which
you　had　better　attend　to。　The　chief　men　among　the　suitors　are　lying　in
wait　for　you　in　the　Strait　between　Ithaca　and　Samos；　and　they　mean
to　kill　you　before　you　can　reach　home。　I　do　not　much　think　they　will
succeed；　it　is　more　likely　that　some　of　those　who　are　now　eating　up
your　property　will　find　a　grave　themselves。　Sail　night　and　day；　and
keep　your　ship　well　away　from　the　islands；　the　god　who　watches　over
you　and　protects　you　will　send　you　a　fair　wind。　As　soon　as　you　get
to　Ithaca　send　your　ship　and　men　on　to　the　town；　but　yourself　go
straight　to　the　swineherd　who　has　charge　your　pigs；　he　is　well
disposed　towards　you；　stay　with　him；　therefore；　for　the　night；　and
then　send　him　to　Penelope　to　tell　her　that　you　have　got　back　safe　from
Pylos。〃
　　Then　she　went　back　to　Olympus；　but　Telemachus　stirred　Pisistratus
with　his　heel　to　rouse　him；　and　said；　〃Wake　up　Pisistratus；　and　yoke
the　horses　to　the　chariot；　for　we　must　set　off　home。〃
　　But　Pisistratus　said；　〃No　matter　what　hurry　we　are　in　we　cannot
drive　in　the　dark。　It　will　be　morning　soon；　wait　till　Menelaus　has
brought　his　presents　and　put　them　in　the　chariot　for　us；　and　let　him
say　good…bye　to　us　in　the　usual　way。　So　long　as　he　lives　a　guest
should　never　forget　a　host　who　has　shown　him　kindness。〃
　　As　he　spoke　day　began　to　break；　and　Menelaus；　who　had　already　risen；
leaving　Helen　in　bed；　came　towards　them。　When　Telemachus　saw　him　he
put　on　his　shirt　as　fast　as　he　could；　threw　a　great　cloak　over　his
shoulders；　and　went　out　to　meet　him。　〃Menelaus；〃　said　he；　〃let　me　go
back　now　to　my　own　country；　for　I　want　to　get　home。〃
　　And　Menelaus　answered；　〃Telemachus；　if　you　insist　on　going　I　will
not　detain　you。　not　like　to　see　a　host　either　too　fond　of　his　guest　or
too　rude　to　him。　Moderation　is　best　in　all　things；　and　not　letting　a
man　go　when　he　wants　to　do　so　is　as　bad　as　telling　him　to　go　if　he
would　like　to　stay。　One　should　treat　a　guest　well　as　long　as　he　is
in　the　house　and　speed　him　when　he　wants　to　leave　it。　Wait；　then；　till
I　can　get　your　beautiful　presents　into　your　chariot；　and　till　you　have
yourself　seen　them。　I　will　tell　the　women　to　prepare　a　sufficient
dinner　for　you　of　what　there　may　be　in　the　house；　it　will　be　at　once
more　proper　and　cheaper　for　you　to　get　your　dinner　before　setting
out　on　such　a　long　journey。　If；　moreover；　you　have　a　fancy　for
making　a　tour　in　Hellas　or　in　the　Peloponnese；　I　will　yoke　my
horses；　and　will　conduct　you　myself　through　all　our　principal
cities。　No　one　will　send　us　away　empty　handed；　every　one　will　give
us　something…　a　bronze　tripod；　a　couple　of　mules；　or　a　gold　cup。〃
　　〃Menelaus；〃　replied　Telemachus；　〃I　want　to　go　home　at　once；　for　when
I　came　away　I　left　my　property　without　protection；　and　fear　that　while
looking　for　my　father　I　shall　come　to　ruin　myself；　or　find　that
something　valuable　has　been　stolen　during　my　absence。〃
　　When　Menelaus　heard　this　he　immediately　told　his　wife　and　servants
to　prepare　a　sufficient　dinner　from　what　there　might　be　in　the
house。　At　this　moment　Eteoneus　joined　him；　for　he　lived　close　by　and
had　just　got　up；　so　Menelaus　told　him　to　light　the　fire　and　cook
some　meat；　which　he　at　once　did。　Then　Menelaus　went　down　into　his
fragrant　store　room；　not　alone；　but　Helen　went　too；　with
Megapenthes。　When　he　reached　the　place　where　the　treasures　of　his
house　were　kept；　he　selected　a　double　cup；　and　told　his　son
Megapenthes　to　bring　also　a　silver　mixing…bowl。　Meanwhile　Helen　went
to　the　chest　where　she　kept　the　lovely　dresses　which　she　had　made　with
her　own　hands；　and　took　out　one　that　was　largest　and　most
beautifully　enriched　with　embroidery；　it　glittered　like　a　star；　and
lay　at　the　very　bottom　of　the　chest。　Then　they　all　came　back　through
the　house　again　till　they　got　to　Telemachus；　and　Menelaus　said；
〃Telemachus；　may　Jove；　the　mighty　husband　of　Juno；　bring　you　safely
home　according　to　your　desire。　I　will　now　present　you　with　the
finest　and　most　precious　piece　of　plate　in　all　my　house。　It　is　a
mixing…bowl　of　pure　silver；　except　the　rim；　which　is　inlaid　with　gold；
and　it　is　the　work　of　Vulcan。　Phaedimus　king　of　the　Sidonians　made
me　a　present　of　it　in　the　course　of　a　visit　that　I　paid　him　while　I
was　on　my　return　home。　I　should　like　to　give　it　to　you。〃
　　With　these　words　he　placed　the　double　cup　in　the　hands　of
Telemachus；　while　Megapenthes　brought　the　beautiful　mixing…bowl　and
set　it　before　him。　Hard　by　stood　lovely　Helen　with　the　robe　ready　in
her　hand。
　　〃I　too；　my　son；〃　said　she；　〃have　something　for　you　as　a　keepsake
from　the　hand　of　Helen；　it　is　for　your　bride　to　wear　upon　her
wedding　day。　Till　then；　get　your　dear　mother　to　keep　it　for　you；
thus　may　you　go　back　rejoicing　to　your　own　country　and　to　your　home。〃
　　So　saying　she　gave　the　robe　over　to　him　and　he　received　it　gladly。
Then　Pisistratus　put　the　presents　into　the　chariot；　and　admired　them
all　as　he　did　so。　Presently　Menelaus　took　Telemachus　and　Pisistratus
into　the　house；　and　they　both　of　them　sat　down　to　table。　A　maid
servant　brought　them　water　in　a　beautiful　golden　ewer；　and　poured　it
into　a　silver　basin　for　them　to　wash　their　hands；　and　she　drew　a　clean
table　beside　them；　an　upper　servant　brought　them　bread　and　offered
them　many　good　things　of　what　there　was　in　the　house。　Eteoneus
carved　the　meat　and　gave　them　each　their　portions；　while　Megapenthes
poured　out　the　wine。　Then　they　laid　their　hands　upon　the　good　things
that　were　before　them；　but　as　soon　as　they　had　had　had　enough　to　eat
and　drink　Telemachus　and　Pisistratus　yoked　the　horses；　and　took
their　places　in　the　chariot。　They　drove　out　through　the　inner
gateway　and　under　the　echoing　gatehouse　of　the　outer　court；　and
Menelaus　came　after　them　with　a　golden　goblet　of　wine　in　his　right
hand　that　they　might　make　a　drink…offering　before　they　set　out。　He
stood　in　front　of　the　horses　and　pledged　them；　saying；　〃Farewell　to
both　of　you；　see　that　you　tell　Nestor　how　I　have　treated　you；　for　he
was　as　kind　to　me　as　any　father　could　be　while　we　Achaeans　were
fighting　before　Troy。〃
　　〃We　will　be　sure；　sir；〃　answered　Telemachus；　〃to　tell　him　everything
as　soon　as　we　see　him。　I　wish　I　were　as　certain　of　finding　Ulysses
returned　when　I　get　back　to　Ithaca；　that　I　might　tell　him　of　the
very　great　kindness　you　have　shown　me　and　of　the　many　beautiful
presents　I　am　taking　with　me。〃
　　As　he　was　thus　speaking　a　bird　flew　on　his　right　hand…　an　eagle　with
a　great　white　goose　in　its　talons　which　it　had　carried　off　from　the
farm　yard…　and　all　the　men　and　women　were　running　after　it　and
shouting。　It　came　quite　close　up　to　them　and　flew　away　on　their
right　hands　in　front　of　the　horses。　When　they　saw　it　they　were　glad；
and　their　hearts　took　comfort　within　them；　whereon　Pisistratus　said；
〃Tell　me；　Menelaus；　has　heaven　sent　this　omen　for　us　or　for　you？〃
　　Menelaus　was　thinking　what　would　be　the　most　proper　answer　for　him
to　make；　but　Helen　was　too　quick　for　him　and　said；　〃I　will　read　this
matter　as　heaven　has　put　it　in　my　heart；　and　as　I　doubt　not　that　it
will　come　to　pass。　The　eagle　came　from　the　mountain　where　it　was
bred　and　has　its　nest；　and　in　like　manner　Ulysses；　after　having
travelled　far　and　suffered　much；　will　return　to　take　his　revenge…　if
indeed　he　is　not　back　already　and　hatching　mischief　for　the　suitors。〃
　　〃May　Jove　so　grant　it；〃　replied　Telemachus；　〃if　it　should　prove　to
be　so；　I　will　make　vows　to　you　as　though　you　were　a　god；　even　when　I
am　at　home。〃
　　As　he　spoke　he　lashed　his　horses　and　they　started　off　at　full
speed　through　the　town　towards　the　open　country。　They　swayed　the
yoke　upon　their　necks　and　travelled　the　whole　day　long　till　the　sun
set　and　darkness　was　over　all　the　land。　Then　they　reached　Pherae；
where　Diocles　lived　who　was　son　of　Ortilochus；　the　son　of　Alpheus。
There　they　passed　the　night　and　were　treated　hospitably。　When　the
child　of　morning；　rosy…fingered　Dawn；　appeared；　they　again　yoked　their
horses　and　their　places　in　the　chariot。　They　drove　out　through　the
inner　gateway　and　under　the　echoing　gatehouse　of　the　outer　court。　Then
Pisistratus　lashed　his　horses　on　and　they　flew　forward　nothing
loath；　ere　long　they　came　to　Pylos；　and　then　Telemachus　said：
　　〃Pisistratus；　I　hope　you　will　promise　to　do　what　I　am　going　to　ask
you。　You　know　our　fathers　were　old　friends　before　us；　moreover；　we　are
both　of　an　age；　and　this　journey　has　brought　us　together　still　more
closely；　do　not；　therefore；　tak